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August 10, 2005

Senior clerics called on Saudis to take their "bayah," or oath of allegiance, to the new King Abdullah, saying it was a religious duty.

Tens of thousands of Saudis -- tribal chiefs, Islamic clerics, army commanders and commoners -- have been flocking to the Riyadh governor's palace to pledge loyalty to Abdullah, vowing to "hear and obey" the new king.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Seedes, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, went so far as to compare the oath to the king to that taken by Muslims to the Prophet Muhammad 14 centuries ago.

"I urge all Muslims to take the 'bayah' because it is part of the creed and a religious duty," al-Seedes said in his Friday sermon, broadcast live on television. He added that those who failed to take the oath would go to their graves as non-Muslims.

Well what can I say, I am speechless. Islam does not allow worshipping of Icons and persons. How can a King's oath be compared to a prophet. And why the ones not taking the oath should be declared non-Muslims? The Muslims outside Saudi Arabia are non-existent? Are they eying for a Muslim Reich ruled by their King with their brand of Islam?

From the picture in the article it seems the US delegations headed by Dick Cheney is happy with the developments.